Toy



June 25, 1968 L. J. SULLIVAN ET. AL

TOY

Filed Oct. 5. 1965 FIGQB FIG.4

mvsmoks. usnov JAMES SULLIVAN a? CHRISTY CASHAVELLY A TORNEY.

United States Patent 3,389,492 TOY Leroy J. Sullivan, 24 Woodward Ave.,New Haven, Conn. 06512, and Christy Cashavelly, 290 Eastlield Drive,Fairfield, Conn. 06604 Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,159 6 Claims.(Cl. 46-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to thecombination of a water gun including a bubble forming device, and aholster for containing the bubble forming solution. The gun is insertedinto the holster containing the bubble solution and withdrawn therefromto form bubbles which may thereafter be burst by an ejection of Waterfrom the gun.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and particularly to animproved water gun having means integral therewith capable of formingbubbles when the water gun is loaded with water, and to a holster forthe water gun adapted to contain a volume of bubble liquid.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a unitaryconstruction including a combined water gun and bubble-forming device,and a holster therefor adapted to contain a quantity of bubble liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a combination'of awater gun including a bubble-forming device, and a holster thereforadapted to contain 21 volume of bubble liquid in which the bubble liquidis prevented from leaking out of the holster.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a combinationof water gun and bubble-forming device with a holster therefor, in whichthe placing of the gun in the holster causes the bubble-forming portionthereof to be immersed within the bubble liquid; and upon quicklywithdrawing the gun from the holster, excess bubble liquid is removedfrom the muzzle end of the gun and causes the formation of bubbles whichact as targets to be broken by a jet of water issuing from the gun whenits trigger is pressed.

In one aspect of the invention, a water pistol may comprise a housingadapted to contain a body of water. It may include a double-acting valvedevice that is rendered elfective by a spring-opposed piston connectedto the trigger of the gun.

In another aspect of the invention, the arrangement is such that uponsqueezing of the trigger of the gun, a metered quantity of liquid withinthe reservoir of the gun is caused to be forced out through the muzzleof the gun.

In a further aspect of the invention, the muzzle end of the gun may beprovided with an extension, and a ring shaped opening may be providedtherein having a bead thereabout so that when the muzzle end of the gunis dipped into bubble-forming solution, a quantity of the solution isentrapped within said extension.

In a still further aspect of the invention, a holster may be providedwhich may include a lower chamber adapted to contain a quantity ofbubble liquid.

In another aspect of the invention, a cross section of the barrel of thegun may be generally U-shaped and. the muzzle end may include aring-shaped opening so that when the gun is swung in a smooth are, airis caused to pass through the opening and transversely across the gunbarrel, so that when the opening is coated with bubble liquid, 2. seriesof bubbles is formed.

In a further aspect of the invention, the holster may include arelatively porous, resilient material located above the level of bubbleliquid within the holster, and it may include a generally U-shaped slitfor permitting the passage of the barrel of the gun therethrough. Theconstrucice tion is such that as the barrel of the gun is passed throughthe resilient, porous material, it snugly fits the contour thereof, andwhen the gun is quickly withdrawn from the holster, the resilientmaterial removes excess bubble liquid from the barrel of the gun whileretaining sutficient to form bubbles. Furthermore, the quick removal ofthe gun from the holster and raising it to firing position causes air tobe forced through the bubble-forming opening at the muzzle end of thegun, thereby forming a plurality of bubbles which act as targets to bebroken by jets of water from the water gun when its trigger is squeezed.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing whichare merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a gun and holster to which theprinciples of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the holster er se;

FIG. 3 is a view looking along line 3-3 in the direction of the arrowsof FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view showing the manner in which the gun is removed from theholster, forming the bubbles acting as targets to be broken by jets ofwater from the gun.

Referring to the drawing, the principles of the invention have beenshown as applied to a water gun 10 including a hollow housing 11 havinga handgrip 12. The entire interior of the housing 11 may be hollow,forming a water chamber that may be filled through an opening 13 that isclosed by a removable plug 14. The housing 11 also includes a frame orguard 15 surrounding a trigger 16 that is pivotally or reciprocablymounted within a slot 17 in a manner well known in the art.

A valve 18 may be mounted within the chamber in housing 11 and it mayinclude a compartment 19' having inlet and outlet passages 20 and 21,respectively. A tubular member 22 may be connected to the inlet passage20, and it may include a ball 23 that normally rests on the top of thetubular element 22 when the gun is in firing position.

A fitting 25 may be attached to the outlet 21, and a ball 26 maynormally rest on the top of outlet 21 by the action of a spring 26'. Atube 27 may connect the fitting 25 to a nozzle 28.

The trigger 16 acts on a rod 29 of a piston 30, the latter beingreciprocably mounted within the compartment 19. A spring 31 withincompartment 19 normally urges the piston 30 and the trigger 16 forwardlyof the compartment 19 (FIG. 1).

With the gun in firing position (FIG. 4), the compartment within thehousing 11 filled with water and the trigger 16 in its rearward position(compressing spring 31), release of the trigger 16 will cause the spring31 to move piston 30 leftwardly, thereby drawing a metered quantity ofwater through the inlet tube 22 past the ball 23 into the compartment19. Squeezing of the trigger 16 then forces the ball 23 onto its seatand the water within compartment 19 upwardly through the outlet 21 andthrough the tube 27 and out the nozzle 28. The previously describedstructure is well known water gun construction and per se forms no partof the present invention except in its relationship in the combinationwith the structure to be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, the forward end of the muzzle of the gun 10 mayinclude an extension 32 of U-shaped cross section but otherwise havingsubstantially the configuration of the muzzle of the gun 10. The forwardend of the extension 30 may include an opening 33 surrounded by a bead34. In the embodiment disclosed, opening 33 is shown elliptical and islocated on the top of the muzzle of the gun. It could, of course, be ofother configuration and could be located anywhere about the muzzle solong as there is an opening opposite it to permit air to be effective informing the bubbles with it. The portion of extension 32 oppositeopening 33 is open at 35.

Referring to FIG. 2, a holster 36 may comprise an impervious casingwhich may be made of plastic or other suitable impervious material. Theholster 36 may be connected to a belt 37 for strapping around the waistof the user, and may include a compartment 38 adapted to contain bubbleliquid. A closure 39 may be provided in the side wall of the holster 36for filling the compartment 38 with bubble liquid.

The compartment 38 may be closed by a plate 40 that rests on shoulders41 formed about the interior of the holster 36. An inverted cup-shapedelement 42 may rest on top of the plate 40 and may include flange means43 that will snap into a groove 44 so as to force the peripheral edge ofthe inverted cup element 42 against the top of plate 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, the top of the inverted cup-shaped element 42 mayinclude a U-shaped opening 45 of such dimension as to receive the crosssection of the extension 32 of the water gun It). The plate 40 mayinclude a similar aligned, U-shaped opening 46, and a body of porous,resilient material, such as foam rubber 47, may be entrapped between theinverted cup-shaped element 42 and plate 40.

The porous, resilient member 47 may include a U- shaped slit 48 thatlies midway between the sides of the openings 45 and 46 in the member 42and plate 40. The construction and arrangement of the parts are suchthat forcing the water gun into the holster 36, the cross sectionalconstruction of extension 32 being the same as that of the U-shapedentrance 45 and 46, causes the slit 48 in the resilient material toseparate, thereby permitting insertion of the extension 32 downwardlywithin the holster to the bottom thereof, immersing the opening 33within the bubble liquid therein. When the gun 10 is withdrawn to firingposition in the manner shown in FIG. 4, air passes downwardly throughthe opening 33, forming a series of bubbles 49 which may serve astargets to be broken by a jet of water 50 issuing from the muzzle end ofthe water gun 10 as the trigger 16 is squeezed.

A- less sophisticated closure for the top of compartment 38 may be asheet of flexible material across the top thereof in which the sheet hasa slit therein similar to slit 48, in which case that portion of theresilient sheet within the confines of the slit would act as a flapvalve.

Although the various features of the improved water gun, bubble-formingdevice, and holster have been described in detail to fully disclose oneembodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be madein such details, and certain features may be used without others withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy, the combination comprising a water gun including a muzzle;apertured bubble forming means in and adjacent to the outer end of saidmuzzle; a holster for said gun, said holster including a compartment forcontaining bubble forming liquid; and means within said holster forclosing the upper end of said compartment, said means being constructedto pass the muzzle end of said gun through said closing means and toclose upon Withdrawal of said gun from said holster, a film being formedover said apertured bubble forming means to provide bubbles when saidmuzzle is withdrawn from said holster and the bubble forming liquidtherein.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1, in which the muzzle end of said gun isof generally U-shaped cross section and said bubble-forming meanscomprises a through passage in that portion of the U-shaped crosssection that joins the legs thereof.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 1, in which the closing means for the upperend of the compartment within the holster comprises resilient materialhaving a U-shaped slit therein.

4. A toy as claimed in claim 2, in which the closing means for the upperend of the compartment within the holster comprises resilient materialhaving a U-shaped slit therein.

5. A toy as claimed in claim 3, in which said resilient material issponge rubber.

6. A toy as claimed in claim 2, in which the closing means for the upperend of the compartment within the holster comprises spaced disk meansbetween which a layer of sponge rubber is located, said disk meansincluding aligned U-shaped openings adapted to receive the muzzle ofsaid gun, and said sponge rubber layer includes a U-shaped slit lyingcentrally of the legs of said aligned U-shaped openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,518,627 8/1950 Lorenz 46-82,832,173 4/1958 Winfield 46-8 2,942,374 6/1960 Mann 467 LOUIS G.MANCENE, Primary Examiner. C. R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner.

